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Lazy weekend poll ~ five questions, Pi Day 2015

Posted by Robin on 14 March 2015 184 Comments

spiral pi digits

Happy Pi Day! Yes, you can celebrate by eating pie. But instead, we're going to talk about perfume, as usual.

First, a quick reminder: we'll be holding the swapmeet (episode 6) next Saturday.

Five questions. As always, answer as many or as few as you like.

1. What's your fragrance today?

2. If you had to recommend one single-brand sample set to a newbie, what brand would you pick?

3. Name a perfume you tested and thought you didn't love, then surprised you with its beauty lingering on your clothing the next day.

4. Name your last "love at first smell" perfume. Did the relationship last?

5. Tell us about something, anything (a book? a chocolate? a movie? really, anything) wonderful that you think we should all know about.

Note: top image is Spiral Pi Digits [colorized and expanded] by fdecomite at flickr; some rights reserved.

Filed Under: poll

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184 Comments

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  1. Lovestosmellgood says:
    14 March 2015 at 11:02 am

    1. What’s your fragrance today?
    Shams by Memo-its not as sexy as I hoped. Very interested in this line-anyone have any recommendations? I have samples of Memo but not sure where to start. Maybe Italian Leather next?

    2. If you had to recommend one single-brand sample set to a newbie, what brand would you pick?
    Amouage Set

    3. Name a perfume you tested and thought you didn’t love, then surprised you with its beauty lingering on your clothing the next day.
    No 19 Poudre

    4. Name your last “love at first smell” perfume. Did the relationship last?
    Journey Woman-yes and yes!!

    5. Tell us about something, anything (a book? a chocolate? a movie? really, anything) wonderful that you think we should all know about.

    French Breakfast by Mariage Freres is my new morning tea. My mother in law makes her own Chai and that has become my new favorite.
    Recently watched 1000 Goodnights on netflix-I found the subject very disturbing and have been thinking about it for days.

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    • Robin says:
      14 March 2015 at 11:42 am

      Curious how French Breakfast is different from English Breakfast?

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      • Lovestosmellgood says:
        14 March 2015 at 12:47 pm

        I haven’t had the English one so I can’t say..all the tea from MF has been fantastic!
        Any favorites from the Memo line?

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        • Robin says:
          14 March 2015 at 1:48 pm

          I have only smelled a few but do have more on the way. I liked Kedu & reviewed it. I’m no help 🙂

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      • mough says:
        15 March 2015 at 8:29 pm

        In my experience, and French breakfast is my FAVORITE, it differs in that it has some added vanilla and caramel flavoring to it, so it’s a tad sweet, but without sugar. I love it. AND this brand, the Mariage brand, is the best. Harney and Sons also makes a good French Breakfast.

        I’m wearing Barr-Co original scent. It’s so…milky and clean and non perfumey, yet wonderful. Their hand sanitizer is fabulous. I look forward to averting germs!

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        • Robin says:
          16 March 2015 at 7:49 am

          Thank you, had a feeling it was flavored but wasn’t sure.

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    • floragal says:
      14 March 2015 at 1:16 pm

      Bergdorf just started carrying Memo I learned on a visit yesterday.
      I tried a few and was given a sample of French Leather which did nothing for me and I hardly made out any leather or even suede, and Granada which I like and plan to wear more as I love the Orange blossom, jasmin, heliotrope notes.

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      • Lovestosmellgood says:
        15 March 2015 at 8:39 am

        Thanks!
        I didn’t like Sham our at first but the dry down is actually really nice.
        I don’t have a sample of those two you mentioned. I will try Siwa today.
        I should stop by BG and check it out!

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      • meredifay says:
        16 March 2015 at 9:29 am

        Granada sounds like it might be right up my alley…

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    • nozknoz says:
      15 March 2015 at 9:01 pm

      I’m testing Lalibela, which is good so far. I’ve also seen positive comments and reviews. I received scented cards for Quartier Latin and Irish Leather, but the two scents had blended together during shipment, so I couldn’t tell which was which. I’d try both of them if I got the chance.

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  2. Suzy Q says:
    14 March 2015 at 11:06 am

    Can’t wait for the Swapmeet! I’ve got my list ready to post.

    1. SOTD Byredo 1996.
    2. Guerlain sample set.
    4. See #1! We’re currently going steady.
    5. Reading “Werner Herzog: A Guide for the Perplexed.” If you’re a fan, I recommended it. If you don’t want to commit to the entire book, there’s a good article about it/him in the New Yorker. (Google it.)

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    • Robin says:
      14 March 2015 at 11:44 am

      Great book title! I will add it to my list, thanks.

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    • hiddles says:
      14 March 2015 at 12:34 pm

      Werner Herzog rocks my world. So does Guerlain.

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      • stinker_kit says:
        14 March 2015 at 1:18 pm

        Another Herzog fan here!

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        • Suzy Q says:
          14 March 2015 at 2:07 pm

          I’m glad to be such good company! FYI, there’s someone on Twitter called Werner Twertzog, who writes in the style of WH. It’s very witty.

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    • missylulu says:
      15 March 2015 at 3:14 pm

      Ohhh, I love 1996. It’s on my FB wish list for sure. It was a great companion for the winter!

      And, I love Werner Herzog. My favorite moment of his is when he gets shot with a rubber bullet. His response is atypical and perfect:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylXqc8TQ15w

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  3. Elizabeth says:
    14 March 2015 at 11:06 am

    1. Chanel Misia. I tried layering it with 28 La Pausa yesterday: Nice combination! The delicate earthiness of 28 really enhances Misia’s iris. I’ll have to try this again.

    2. A L’Artisan set. That’s where I started. They’re niche but not too strange.

    3. Mitsouko, and boy does it linger!

    4. Misia again. We shall see.

    5. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix. So funny!

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    • Marjorie Rose says:
      14 March 2015 at 11:20 am

      I can’t help but be curious about Misia! I read Robin’s review and the comments with bated breath. I have a bit of a problem where rose-violets are concerned! 😀

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      • mals86 says:
        14 March 2015 at 11:35 am

        THANK YOU for using “bated breath” correctly. Mwah.

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        • Bexca says:
          14 March 2015 at 12:33 pm

          I did a little cheer as well.

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          • SheriG says:
            14 March 2015 at 12:45 pm

            Me three! Grammatical pet peeve (of which I have many). 🙂

        • Marjorie Rose says:
          14 March 2015 at 1:28 pm

          Yes, imprecise use of language *literally* drives me crazy! 😉

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          • SheriG says:
            14 March 2015 at 1:33 pm

            Oh, snap! 🙂

          • Robin says:
            14 March 2015 at 1:48 pm

            That’s one of my verbal tics, ack. And I do have many.

          • Marjorie Rose says:
            14 March 2015 at 3:02 pm

            Robin, honestly, it bugs me less than folks who say they have a theory when they really mean they have a guess, an idea, a hypothesis, or have noted a pattern. Leads to a lot of misunderstandings about the nature of science and which ideas we feel rather confident about (like gravity).

        • Bear says:
          14 March 2015 at 7:34 pm

          Is the error people using ‘baited’ instead of ‘bated’?
          And I am annoyed by ‘conversate’ becoming an actual word. Merriam-Webster say it be so. LOL 😉

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          • 2rista says:
            15 March 2015 at 11:53 am

            Really? I’ve never seen it but I suppose it’s natural after “obligate”

        • 50_Roses says:
          14 March 2015 at 9:57 pm

          Did you hear about the cat who ate cheese and then sat next to the mouse hole? He wanted to wait with baited breath.

          OK, you can groan if you like 😉

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          • Bear says:
            14 March 2015 at 10:09 pm

            HAHA 50_Roses, that was funny!!! And I’m not being sarcastic – thanks for the answer and a laugh! 😉

          • missylulu says:
            15 March 2015 at 3:29 pm

            AHAHAHAHAHA, I laughed very hard at this. You have made my day.

        • 2rista says:
          15 March 2015 at 11:50 am

          Oh yes! Thank heaven for correct spelling. My latest bugbear is discreet/ discrete.

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    • Suzy Q says:
      14 March 2015 at 11:27 am

      My sample of Misia is headed to my mailbox. I expect to at least like it. At best it will be FBW. Can’t wait to find out!

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    • Robin says:
      14 March 2015 at 11:44 am

      Thank you so much for reporting on the layering!! I may never find my 28 La Pausa.

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    • rose pepper says:
      14 March 2015 at 3:54 pm

      #2 and #5! Yes and yes, those are my answers too. L’Artisan is interesting yet approachable. And the unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt … Absolutely hilarious. Still laughing about Pinot noir 😆

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      • Sajini says:
        14 March 2015 at 5:41 pm

        can’t get the sound of Titus’s voice singing Pinot noirrrrrrr out of my head. That and his sequin encrusted sleeveless jumper with silver leggings. What a hoot!

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  4. 50_Roses says:
    14 March 2015 at 11:08 am

    1. Vintage Miss Balmain from a set of minis I picked up fairly cheap on eBay.

    2. Probably Sonoma Scent Studio. Her scents represent a wide range of types, are a good intro to indie frags, but the range is small enough it would be possible to try all of them. They are also reasonably priced and available in small sizes.

    3. Can’t think of one off-hand. Generally, if I don’t like it on me, I don’t like its remnants on my clothes either.

    4. Probably Aftelier Secret Garden. And yes, it is still a favorite.

    5. Earlier this morning, the date and time (in US format, and omitting leading zeroes), was 3/14/15 9:26:53, which is the first 10 digits of pi. This will happen again this evening, if you use 12 hour format for the time.

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    • Marjorie Rose says:
      14 March 2015 at 11:19 am

      I still get an hour before I get to celebrate 3.14.15 9:26. 😀

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      • 50_Roses says:
        14 March 2015 at 11:21 am

        Yes, each time zone gets it at a different time. Mountain Time will get to observe it in a few minutes, and the Pacific Time zone and Arizona will get it in about an hour.

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        • Marjorie Rose says:
          14 March 2015 at 11:32 am

          I hear that MIT released their admissions list at that time today. Seems especially appropriate!

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          • mals86 says:
            14 March 2015 at 11:36 am

            How cool!

          • SheriG says:
            14 March 2015 at 12:47 pm

            Nice!

  5. Marjorie Rose says:
    14 March 2015 at 11:16 am

    1. SOTD–Nuthin’ yet, but post-workout it will probably be Lyric. I think I dreamt about it last night!

    2. Sample Set Rec–Dang you, Robin, with your underscored ONE! Thing is, my favorite set is the Ormonde Jayne Set, but I recognize that it’s divisive–love ’em or not at all. There are other sets that might be more newbie friendly.

    3. Lingering beauties–??? Not sure this has ever happened to me.

    4. Love and infatuation–Taking this quite literally, I LOVE the top notes of Tom Ford Noir de Noir. Sadly, it goes away too soon and doesn’t become anything new and interesting in the dry down for me. So, we met eyes at the club, but after a brief conversation, I realized he wouldn’t be coming home with me.

    5. Wonder-full–I have tulips and daffodils blooming in my yard! It is at least 2 weeks early due to our oddly warm and dry winter (please don’t throw anything at me!). We will pay for this ease with a tough summer, I suspect.

    Also, I’ve been voraciously reading a series of weight-lifting books, and I’m really enjoying them (and getting a lot stronger pretty quickly). New Rules for Lifting for Women and New Rules for Lifting for Life are the two on my bedside table right now. A really great, scientifically-based program that respects individual body’s abilities while pushing your limits so that you see real growth. Never again will I do a triceps kickback!

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    • Lovestosmellgood says:
      14 March 2015 at 11:39 am

      I love Lyric!

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      • Marjorie Rose says:
        14 March 2015 at 6:23 pm

        I smell good! 🙂

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    • missylulu says:
      15 March 2015 at 3:31 pm

      Ahahaha, I’m glad you made the classy choice and left Noir de Noir at the club. 😀

      And I am so jealous of your daffodils and tulips! Ours are finally starting to peek their little heads out of the earth, and I am waiting anxiously for them to bloom. For the moment, I am poking my nose into the hyacinths and daffodils at the grocery store.

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  6. mals86 says:
    14 March 2015 at 11:49 am

    1. No SOTD yet because we’re cleaning now; I’m taking a ten-minute break and will scent myself after shower. It’s likely to be Chamade, though.

    2. Sample set… Frederic Malle, I think. I don’t loooooove all of them, but they’re interesting and varied, and I’ve had better luck with Malle than with either L’Artisan or Diptyque, or with Ormonde Jayne, for that matter.

    3. I can’t think of a scent where the drydown won me over – unless you count Iris Poudre. I liked the top/heart a great deal and was considering a decant of anyway, when I fell hard for that fluffy drydown.

    Or… well. I really can’t take the first, say, six hours of Aromatics Elixir. It’s urinous, to me, and it’s only after that stage goes away that it becomes gorgeous. Still can’t bear it enough to buy. (I suspect the sage. Doesn’t LT say sage smells urinous to a small group of – I think he said women, specifically? and it’s definitely not CAT pee, either. Nope.)

    4. Love at first sniff? That happens very infrequently for me, but Le Temps d’une Fete and Mary Greenwell Plum were favorites from the start. The newest LAFS is probably Wit, and my decant is dwindling but I haven’t bought a bottle yet. Probably will, though. We’ll see.

    5. Hmm. Got nothin’ recently. I’ll just read everybody else’s and maybe find something good I needed to know about. 🙂

    Thrilled to have my daughter home from college this week!

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    • Schneeze says:
      14 March 2015 at 12:35 pm

      I just sampled some AE today, and it is curiously attractive. I had a bottle of it years ago, and there was always *something* jarring in there that spoiled it. I’ve come to appreciate chypres more so the change in perception might be at my end. And you can get a 10ml bottle 🙂

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      • mals86 says:
        14 March 2015 at 12:54 pm

        I have too much to buy something I actively hate for six hours… I do really like the AE drydown, though.

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        • pixel says:
          14 March 2015 at 2:57 pm

          I’m with you on AE. Hate the open, like the dry down… but I’m not going to sit thru hours of “ugh, yuck” to get to “oh this is nice”.

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  7. allgirlmafia says:
    14 March 2015 at 11:59 am

    1)My fragrance today is Mon Parfum Cheri, came in the mail yesterday and I have been spraying with reckless abandon! Its thick and deep and curvy and I love it!

    2)I don’t know if they have a sample set but I think everyone should sample Annick Goutal.

    3) Aromatics Elixir and Ralph Lauren Glamourous are two I disliked but then came to love!

    4) HDP Patchouli Noir- Love at first smell.

    5) I am reading Zora Neale Hurston ‘Every Tounge got to Confess’ a collection of southern African American folk tales. She is a beautiful author.

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    • Robin says:
      14 March 2015 at 3:50 pm

      Then maybe I will come around to Aromatics Elixir eventually 🙂

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      • allgirlmafia says:
        15 March 2015 at 9:11 am

        Keep hope alive, Robin ; )

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        • Robin says:
          15 March 2015 at 9:18 am

          🙂

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    • unseencenser says:
      15 March 2015 at 4:29 pm

      Zora Neale Husrton doesn’t get read enough. Good for you.

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  8. Schneeze says:
    14 March 2015 at 12:11 pm

    1/ PoaL by Frédéric Malle.

    2/ An Estée Lauder sample set. The house has (had) a consistent output of good quality over the years, and they’re reasonably priced. Nothing too out of the ordinary or fancy, just good stuff.

    3/ Boudoir by Vivienne Westwood. I thought it smelled too odd (rubber) at first. I kept sniffing my arm all afternoon and evening, and then went back for more the next day and so forth 🙂 I love it . . . but not the far drydown. Too vanille-y for my tastes. It takes ages (10-12hrs) to get there though so it doesn’t really matter anymore at that point.

    4/ YR Secrets d’Essences Neroli. Kaboom. Sniffed it, and bought it the next day. It’s still the way it was on the first day. I wouldn’t say I *love* it, but it makes me very very happy.

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    • Schneeze says:
      14 March 2015 at 12:18 pm

      3/ edit: One scent I don’t really care for that much in the top/midnotes, but absolutely love the drydown of is Chanel Coco.

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    • Robin says:
      14 March 2015 at 1:49 pm

      Problem is that EL doesn’t sell sample sets! In fact, you’re pretty much stuck with niche since pretty much all the mainstream lines don’t bother.

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      • Oakland Fresca says:
        14 March 2015 at 2:50 pm

        Don’t know if EL still does this, but when I was teenager the company would sell combo boxes of minis… albeit all of their most widely sold fragrances.

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      • karen B says:
        14 March 2015 at 5:28 pm

        I got an EL sample set several years ago and still have the mini Pleasures and one more I can’t identify. But … maybe around 2005?

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  9. Dusan says:
    14 March 2015 at 12:43 pm

    1. will probably be Bois de violette.
    2. Why, Serge Lutens, of course.
    3. Really can’t think of any at the moment.
    4. A*Men Pure Wood. Oh yes, but still not a FB worthy ‘yes’.
    5. Kate Atkinson’s Life After Life. I’ve just finished it and am completely blown away. Everyone should read this perfection of a novel.

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    • bookgirl says:
      14 March 2015 at 1:56 pm

      Read it and loved it. So freaking good!

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    • foxbins says:
      14 March 2015 at 2:40 pm

      I also thought it was a good book.

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    • Sajini says:
      14 March 2015 at 7:37 pm

      Pure Wood just came up with a hefty discount on Beauty Encounter. Sorry that was very bad of me…

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      • Dusan says:
        15 March 2015 at 9:30 am

        Hahaha must fight the urge.

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  10. austenfan says:
    14 March 2015 at 1:01 pm

    1) Songes EDP by Goutal.

    2) Parfums de Nicolaï, brilliant and affordable, Goutal would come in as a close second although they have become rather pricey.

    3) Funnily enough Songes again. It took me a long time to love it, but I’ve loved it ever since. I avoid spraying on clothes as scents tend to cling too long to my tastes.

    4) Oyédo, Diptyque. I don’t know. I only have a small sample. Another swoon at first sniff that has lasted for years is Heure Exquise, and La Promesse de l’Aube, and Vamp à New York

    5) If you are at all interested in people, and the triumph of hope over cynicism I recommend watching The English Surgeon. It’s a documentary about an English neurosurgeon and his work in Ukraine, but more than the medical story, it’s a tale of hope, friendship, trust and respect.

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  11. Deva says:
    14 March 2015 at 1:01 pm

    1) Bronze Goddess Dry Oil Spray
    2) Serge Lutens
    3) SL Cuir Mauresque- initially repulsed and then full-on enduring love
    4) Onda! Onda, I will always love you and never have you (deep wracking sobs with this realization!)
    5) To Kill a Mockingbird- An accessible literary classic that encompasses the entirety of the human experience. Harper Lee, it is humanity’s loss that you no longer walk this earth.

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    • galbanumgal says:
      14 March 2015 at 1:13 pm

      she may not be very mobile post-stroke, but she’s still with us! Her book featuring Scout as a grown woman (acually penned prior to TKAM) will be released this summer, to the consternation of many.

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      • stinker_kit says:
        14 March 2015 at 1:25 pm

        I question whether Harper Lee ever wanted to have this book published…..I hope no one took advantage of her failing memory.

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        • galbanumgal says:
          14 March 2015 at 1:49 pm

          the whole saga is very peculiar, indeed

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        • Robin says:
          14 March 2015 at 2:58 pm

          Sounds like it has been pretty thoroughly established at this point that she is of “sound mind”.

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        • Sajini says:
          14 March 2015 at 8:07 pm

          hmmmm. I still think it sounds fishy. My sense was that her sister was the gatekeeper, but within a very short time of her sister’s passing, suddenly this new book was discovered and Lee gave permission to publish after not wanting to publish another book since the 60’s?

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      • Deva says:
        14 March 2015 at 3:43 pm

        Oh My Bad! For some reason I thought I read that she passed away, quickly followed by the decision to publish a new book posthumously. Ms Lee, if you read this blog, I humbly apologize!

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        • stinker_kit says:
          14 March 2015 at 9:38 pm

          There is a recent article in the New York Times. Apparently the Alabama State Attorney launched an investigation into Harper Lee’s case, their office having received letters and calls alleging Elder Abuse.

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          • Robin says:
            14 March 2015 at 9:49 pm

            Yes, but the investigation is already over, they found no evidence of abuse.

    • Lisa D says:
      14 March 2015 at 10:47 pm

      Deva, I hate to see you so overcome. 🙂 I’ve got some mls left in my Onda bottle; let’s talk when the Swap Meet opens!

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      • Deva says:
        15 March 2015 at 1:27 pm

        Lisa D! OMG!!! So much joy down here in Swamplandia when I read your post. We will talk and hopefully I have a scent or two to pique your interest and we can arrange a successful swap 🙂

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        • Lisa D says:
          15 March 2015 at 11:43 pm

          It’s a date!

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  12. SheriG says:
    14 March 2015 at 1:12 pm

    1. What’s your fragrance today?
    So far it’s Olfactive Studio Chambre Noire, from a sample that arrived a few weeks ago and got buried under a pile of paperwork. Very nice!

    2. If you had to recommend one single-brand sample set to a newbie, what brand would you pick?
    Ooh, that’s a toughie. I think it would depend on who the recommendee is. The teenager next door would get an entirely different suggestion from the one I would give to the incredibly elegant woman in my office who always seems to just have stepped out of the pages of Vogue circa 1955.

    3. Name a perfume you tested and thought you didn’t love, then surprised you with its beauty lingering on your clothing the next day.
    Easier – Cuir de Lancome.

    4. Name your last “love at first smell” perfume. Did the relationship last?
    See 1 above – it’s too early to tell whether it will last, though, so the one before last was Naomi Goodsir Or du Serail and it’s true love.

    5. Tell us about something, anything (a book? a chocolate? a movie? really, anything) wonderful that you think we should all know about.
    Well, I hesitate to tell you all this because it reveals my detective-noir addiction, but the novels of John D. MacDonald are beautifully written treasures. The Travis McGee series is lighter-hearted than his other novels, but all are gorgeous flows of the English language.

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    • Marjorie Rose says:
      14 March 2015 at 1:33 pm

      Wish *I’d* just stepped out of Vogue circa 1955!

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      • SheriG says:
        14 March 2015 at 3:28 pm

        Me too! And the worst of it is that I suspect she has no idea that everyone around her has the same impression that I do. My desk is near the reception area, and more than once I’ve heard visitors/strangers say something like “wow” after she passed by. It would be demoralizing, except that she’s really sweet too. Oh wait – maybe that’s even more demoralizing. 🙂

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    • Oakland Fresca says:
      14 March 2015 at 2:53 pm

      Oh I was hoping someone would recommend some good detective novels… I’ve just wrapped up a not-so-good one–Murder as a Fine Art, which promised to be better than it was.

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      • Rappleyea says:
        14 March 2015 at 5:33 pm

        Oakland – I’ll recommend the Donna Leon detective novels, Charles Todd, and for some older ones, Josephine Tey. Enjoy!

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        • Oakland Fresca says:
          14 March 2015 at 10:27 pm

          Any books in particular? I read The Daughter of Time when I was in middle school and loved it!

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          • Rappleyea says:
            15 March 2015 at 8:22 am

            I was very late to Tey and only recently read all of them, but loved them all!

            Todd has two series going – Inspector Rutledge, which I haven’t read yet, and Bess Crawford, which is his series I’ve read. She’s a WWI nurse, not a detective, who gets pulled into solving murders. I love the blend of historical fiction and mystery.

            And after reading numerous recs for Donna Leon, I was lucky enough to find a lot of her books on ebay for cheap so I bought a bunch! No particular book to recommend; I’ve really, really enjoyed them all. Her writing is a bit more lyrical than the normal mystery writer. The first book is Death at La Fenice, but I’ve read several out of order and it doesn’t seem to make a difference.

            And I forgot to recommend the Jacqueline Winspear Maisie Dobbs series. Another WWI nurse, but this series begins right after the war and goes forward. Again beautiful writing, but this series does need to be read in order. Can you tell I love historical fiction/mysteries? 🙂

      • karen B says:
        14 March 2015 at 5:38 pm

        I just finished the first in Kathy Reichs’ series about a female forensic anthropologist, Déjà Dead. Took place in Montréal, brutal murders, well-paced, tension filled. She is an excellent writer, a forensic anthr and teacher in real life. How could I have missed her all these years?

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        • hajusuuri says:
          14 March 2015 at 10:31 pm

          I love the Kathy Reichs series! I also highly recommend Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Armand Gamache books, CJ Box’s Joe Pickett novels and Jussi Adler-Olsen’s Department Q mysteries!

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        • Oakland Fresca says:
          14 March 2015 at 10:36 pm

          Deja Dead is now on my Kindle!

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        • Deva says:
          15 March 2015 at 1:33 pm

          Yes, this is a series I discovered and really enjoyed although I have not read any recently as I seemed to pass out of my “forensics” phase. I prefer her heroine as opposed to Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta.

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  13. jirish says:
    14 March 2015 at 1:19 pm

    1. Nothing yet – but post-shower I’m planning to put on Dzongka.
    2. I’m going to cheat and say that I think newbies should explore notes instead of lines. I would introduce them to Surrender to Chance’s samples sets. That way they could be introduced to many different houses.
    3. Maybe Mythique. In that case, it was initially hard to smell and seemed a little wan, but as time went by I had that feeling of ‘what smells so beautiful?’ and realized it was me!
    4. Narcisco and Rozy. Still love both, but still don’t own any! Hoping to get at least one of them for Mother’s Day.
    5. I just finished reading all 24 volumes of the manga 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa. A really wonderful sci-fi/fantasy manga. I also want to thank whoever recommended the wonderful A Tale for the Time Being here. I loved that book so much that I plan on rereading it. Also thanks to whoever recommended On Such a Full Sea. Another great and moving read. NSTers are the best at recommendations.

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  14. AnnieA says:
    14 March 2015 at 1:26 pm

    My most recent love at first sniff” perfume was ELO Bendelirious when I visited the Perfume House with MR last summer. It was reasonably priced and a now-or-never choice, but when I took it home it turned out to be more fleeting than I’d hoped. Nevertheless, it is a happy, candied-iris perfume, fun while it lasts, and I am wearing it today.

    In an oddball choice, I’d suggest the Prestige Deluxe Coffret
    by Etat Libre d’Orange. Instant perfumista cred, instant mini collection at good value, and a perfume adventure.

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    • galbanumgal says:
      14 March 2015 at 2:21 pm

      ELO is a good suggestion–still haven’t tested any of them, and would like to.

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      • Deva says:
        15 March 2015 at 1:35 pm

        Galbanumgal, I I have a FB of Putain des Palaces if you think this is one of the ELDO’s that might interest you. I’d be happy to send you a decant of you like. You can contact me at taiga101atyahoooovilledotcom. 🙂

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        • galbanumgal says:
          15 March 2015 at 2:25 pm

          thanks Deva!

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    • johanob says:
      14 March 2015 at 4:52 pm

      Good suggestion the EldO discovery set!And I LOVE Bendelirious.

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  15. foxbins says:
    14 March 2015 at 1:35 pm

    1. SL A La Nuit today.
    2. Mona di Orio’s sample set, though pricy, give you 5 ml of the d’Or line and is a good intro to her aesthetic, I think. Plus, if you hate some, they are easy to swap or re-sell.
    3. DelRae Bois de Paradis initially struck me as way too fruity for my tastes, but I find myself reaching for it quite often. It’s unusual.
    4. Love at first sniff was Un Crime Exotique. I am a sucker for spice, and paid way too much for a bottle of this because it’s discontinued. I still love it.
    5. You will all laugh at me, but I want to praise Gold Toe socks. I bought a pack of the cotton blend at Costco more than 10 years ago. Despite repeated washing and drying and almost daily wear, the elastic top has remained tight. Today I found a small hole in the toe of one. I think that’s phenomenal quality, and I hope when I go to buy replacements they haven’t been “reformulated.”

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    • Marjorie Rose says:
      14 March 2015 at 6:24 pm

      I’m a Gold Toe fan, too. Nice to have a few things that are still well-made in the world!

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  16. Dawn says:
    14 March 2015 at 1:53 pm

    1. I haven’t picked out a SOTD yet, but I am taking a little bit of a break from cleaning up. Maybe vintage no. 19 in edp form will do the trick.
    2. I would have to say Amouage at this question.
    3. Can’t remember one but I’m sure that I have had a few of those.
    4. Chanel’s Cuir de Russie is one even though I don’t wear that one as much anymore. Amouage Lyric is my second but I still wear that one quite often.
    5. Working my way through The Hobbit (book) and then going to rewatch the movies.

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    • mals86 says:
      14 March 2015 at 2:03 pm

      I’m waiting on the full box set of The Hobbit movies before I buy them – I know my 14-year-old will want the collector’s version. 🙂

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      • Dawn says:
        14 March 2015 at 2:07 pm

        I have the first two on my Kindle with some bonus features but I’m waiting for the 3rd extended edition to come out.

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  17. bookgirl says:
    14 March 2015 at 2:16 pm

    1. Sampling L’Artisan’s Batucada today. It’s not really my cup of tea (like, at all) but my husband *loves* it, and he’s generally not a fan of any of my perfumes. Sigh. Of course.

    2. Frederic Malle is hard to beat. Even though I don’t love them all (I’m looking at you, Carnal Flower), they’re all so varied and well done and interesting that both new and seasoned perfumistas alike can appreciate.

    3. I couldn’t stand FM Noir Epices when I first smelled it, then upon second sniff (years later), I suddenly saw (or should I say, smelled) what everyone else was raving about. It’s pretty gorgeously and brilliantly done, and much softer than I remembered. Also, I remember thinking Musc Ravageur to be almost dirty-smelling when I first sampled it, then years later it was all soft and kitten-like fuzziness, and I absolutely love it.

    4. Sniffing SJP Lovely for the first time brought memories of my grandmother flooding back – she smelled *just* like that! – which was pretty incredible. When I asked my mother what perfume her mother used to wear, she says Youth Dew. Which I’ve never smelled. Is it similar to Lovely?

    5. Go watch The Last Man on Earth (Fox) with the hilarious William Forte and Kristen Schaal. Report back. You’re so welcome.

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    • tiffanie says:
      14 March 2015 at 3:58 pm

      I think there was something classic and familiar about the amber and musk in Lovely. Familiar in the good way, as in, “Oh, that smells lovely! Where have I smelled it before?” I wish I knew what to compare it to.

      Thanks for pushing me over the edge TV-wise. 🙂 The Last Man on Earth has been on my maybe-watch list, so tonight I’ll bump it up and try it. Kristen Schaal was hilarious in Flight of the Conchords.

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      • bookgirl says:
        15 March 2015 at 2:38 am

        Lovely really is a feel-good, cozy scent. I really should get another bottle.

        Kristen Schaal is so so great in this. Enjoy it!

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    • annemarie says:
      14 March 2015 at 5:36 pm

      Lovely and Youth Dew are about as far apart as you can get on the perfume spectrum without falling off the edge of the world! Youth Dew was released in 1953 and is a spicy, resinous oriental which trails for a mile and lasts all day and all night. It would be impossible to confuse it with that clean, airy musk which is Lovely. Perhaps your grandmother wore YD anew earlier stage of her life? And perhaps she used hair or body products scented with something similar to Lovely?

      Both are fantastic perfumes, just completely different!

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      • bookgirl says:
        15 March 2015 at 2:39 am

        Thanks for the clarification, annemarie. Seems like my grandmother had to have moved on to another perfume by the time I was born. It’s a mystery!

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  18. pixel says:
    14 March 2015 at 2:20 pm

    1. SOTD is Lutens Borneo 1834. Sure is unusual… dusty musty patchouli cocoa… but I like it. Not sure I bell-jar-like-it, though; wish it came in a smaller size.

    2. I’d recommend a Lutens grab-bag or Frederic Malle grab-bag. Plenty of variety in either house.

    5. Just finished reading The Book Thief, now I can rent the movie. I’ll be interested to see how well they managed to translate the unique perspective of Death-As-Narrator into a movie…

    Formula 1 season opens this weekend! Yay!

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    • johanob says:
      14 March 2015 at 4:49 pm

      Yes to the Formula 1 starting!

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  19. Hera says:
    14 March 2015 at 2:57 pm

    1. I am wearing vintage Chanel No.19 edc that I found today at an estate sale.

    2. I have no idea what to recommend but me personally would like to have a Chanel exclusives sample set if it had existed.

    3. CD Addict

    4. My last love at first smell was Misia and the relationship is going great till now.

    5. CD Miss Dior shower gel is really wonderful. Unfortunately it is not available here in Canada, I bought this at the Heathrow airport .

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    • Sajini says:
      14 March 2015 at 7:53 pm

      Nice find! Enjoy your #19!

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  20. Oakland Fresca says:
    14 March 2015 at 3:09 pm

    1. Carnal Flower

    2. Hmmm.. probably L’artisan Parfumeur… lots to love.

    3. Mitsouko….many moons ago. Now we are soul-mates.

    4. Naomi Goodsir’s Bois d’ Acese.

    5. Exhausted, very sad, and frequently nauseated by events in Syria and nearby… I recently read an entirely original and totally fascinating book on the history of US foreign affairs in the Middle East going back to Benjamin Franklin. If you are even remotely interested, you will really enjoy Micheal Oren’s ‘Power, Faith, and Fantasy.’

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    • austenfan says:
      14 March 2015 at 4:33 pm

      Thanks for the tip. I recently saw a patient who had visited Syria years ago. She couldn’t watch the news anymore as she had such incredible memories from that country and the great hospitality she met with on her way.

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  21. Elisa P says:
    14 March 2015 at 3:21 pm

    1) SOTD Guerlain L’Heure Bleue EDP
    2)Penhaligon’s won’t scare anyone away.
    3)I sprayed both FM Eau de Magnolia and L’eau D’Hiver, bought the magnolia(10 ml) and didn’t love the Hiver. Next day, didn’t like the Magnolia on one sweater arm, but LOVED the other so went back to Barney’s and swapped.
    4) LAFS- Prada Infusion D’Iris EDP Absolue. Left Sephora and searched madly at one of those perfume /electronics stores in Manhattan and scored it for $46. LOOOOVE it and wear it almost daily.
    5) Bread, Nutella, and sour cherry preserves. Delish!!!

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    • Robin says:
      14 March 2015 at 3:45 pm

      Plotting my attack on #5 right now.

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    • karen B says:
      14 March 2015 at 5:45 pm

      Ooh la la. Have Nutella, have sour cherry jam, out of bread.

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      • Elisa P says:
        14 March 2015 at 11:40 pm

        The bread is just a vehicle. Spoon works just as well 🙂

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  22. PriscillaE says:
    14 March 2015 at 3:30 pm

    1. SOTD is Smell Bent’s Florist Fridge, which is a lovely floral green.
    2. I think it depends on the newbie’s pocketbook. I hate sampling things I can’t afford a full bottle of.
    3. I’ve got nothing.
    4. Krazy Krizia.
    5. The sun is shining and its in the 70s.

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    • Lisa D says:
      14 March 2015 at 10:10 pm

      Doesn’t Florist’s Fridge smell exactly like? So refreshing.

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      • mals86 says:
        15 March 2015 at 10:06 pm

        It’s really good. Bonus: cheap.

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  23. lucasai says:
    14 March 2015 at 3:45 pm

    Hello all, I’m starting to count down days until Esxence. I’m flying to Milan in 10 days.

    Moving on to answering questions:

    1. SotD is Amouage Opus V
    2. Atelier Cologne sampler (or Histoires de Parfums one)
    3. Memo Shams Oud
    4. Le Galion 222, I have 10ml travel spray, definitely gonna use it!
    5. I think everyone should try Malaga, Tiki-taki and Kasztanki pralines from Polish brand Wawel, they are delicious

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    • hajusuuri says:
      14 March 2015 at 9:46 pm

      Hello Sweetie – have fun at Esxence and do your perfumista family proud with your reporting!

      I still have to try the Le Galion line…

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      • lucasai says:
        15 March 2015 at 4:54 pm

        Thank you! Count on me when it comes to reporting 😉

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  24. johanob says:
    14 March 2015 at 4:47 pm

    Hello NST!
    1.SOTD Frederic Malle Une Rose.Having a hard time deciding which Malle rose I like the most,this or Lipstick(Portrait of a Lady does not count,it’s in a league of it’s own.Lol)
    2.Definitely the Malle Coffret.Expensive,but sooo worth the money.
    3.It was a big surprise the following day:Rochas L’Absolue.The drydown is actually awesome and I subsequently bought a back-up bottle
    4.Portrait of a Lady.Love at first sniff.And ever since.Same with Bendelirious!
    5.I recently watched some old(ish) comedies:Bridesmaids was the standout.I NEVER laughed so much in my life at a film!Hilarious.

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  25. ihadanidea says:
    14 March 2015 at 4:56 pm

    1. I started today with Nirvana Black for cozy warmth in the cold rain of Brooklyn, but now I’m wearing an old sample – Guerlain’s Angelique Noire. Not me at all, probably because of the almond.

    4. Cuir de Lancome was love at first smell, and yes, the relationship has lasted…though I only first smelled at Christmas, but I feel like this will continue.

    5. I just finished reading “Goodbye to All That,” a book of essays edited by Sari Botton about New York. One of those books that finds you at exactly the right time.

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  26. beth24601 says:
    14 March 2015 at 5:13 pm

    1. The perfume du jour is a mix of Annick Goutal’s Gardénia
    Passion and Un Matin d”Orage.

    2. I’d give a sampler of old Guerlains. Everyone should try L’Heure Bleue and Mitsouko at least once.

    3. Goutal’s Musc Nomade. I first I thought it had but a strange industrial oil smell, the next day I loved it.

    4. The latest love at first sniff belonged to the new Carven EdP. It was a very short fling.

    5. My best friend and I met in college. We at first didn’t like each other very much, but had to work on a French project together…I went to her dorm room to work on the assignment. On her dresser was a bottle of Jardins de Bagatelle… the rest was history. We have been bestie ever since and to this day we always end out long distance conversations with talk about new perfumes!

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    • austenfan says:
      14 March 2015 at 7:04 pm

      That’s an interesting mix. I’ve tried layering Matin with Carnal Flower, which was quite a nice combo.

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  27. Eva S says:
    14 March 2015 at 5:16 pm

    1. SOTD Hermes Hiris, long gone now
    2. I’d also go with Frederic Malle or for the adventuresome Andy Tauer
    3. Amouage Journey Woman. Now I love it!
    4. SHL 777 Oumma. Loved it enough to buy a FB and I’m using it up at an alarming rate…

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  28. Sajini says:
    14 March 2015 at 6:13 pm

    1. SOTD is lingering vanilla incensee from yesterday. That stuff really lasts.
    2. Sample set for newbies: I think every newbie should have an aunt or uncle, friend, sister, brother, son or daughter, grandma or grandpa perfumista or perfumister who puts together a custom sample set from his or her personal collection.
    3. AG le muguet. At first it was like “holy mothballs in granny’s underpants, batman!” But after it calms a bit it’s really lovely.
    4. We are leaving tomorrow to spend a week in Florida. Going from raw freezing rain temps in the 30’s to sunny 80+ degrees weather, I’m struggling to figure out what perfume to bring. It’s jarring to suddenly stop all the heavy spice and woods and start up with the lighter stuff. My short list of choices are Bvlgari au the vert, Fragonard Santal, Eau du Sud, Hindu Honeysuckle. Any suggestions? Or maybe I should buy something there (I will be in For Meyers and Sarasota so any perfume buying places there?)

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    • Sajini says:
      14 March 2015 at 6:17 pm

      Also, I just blind bought a bottle of Coach Leatherware #2 for my husband. I haven’t smelled it yet, but noticed that “baseball glove leather” is one of the notes, so that sold me on it. Has anyone tried this one?

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      • Marjorie Rose says:
        14 March 2015 at 6:28 pm

        Oh, I was curious about that Coach scent, too! Mr. Spicebomb is a downright baseball NERD! 😀

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        • Sajini says:
          14 March 2015 at 7:25 pm

          It’s on sale at Hautelook for $48 (and also at the Coach website for $48, but the shipping is slightly more). I have a feeling they are going to be discontinued. Probably won’t get it till April sometime, but when I do, you will get a full report.

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          • platinum14 says:
            14 March 2015 at 7:38 pm

            I checked with the Coach store near me and the are already discontinued. They are selling off what is left. Too bad, they were all great.

          • hajusuuri says:
            14 March 2015 at 10:19 pm

            And Coach is having their 25% off sale for anything and everything in their store. I should look for my samples and decide which one to buy.

        • Sajini says:
          14 March 2015 at 7:47 pm

          Uh oh. Does the Spicebomb do baseball stats? My hubbie has created his own software program… nuff said.

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          • Marjorie Rose says:
            14 March 2015 at 7:57 pm

            His friends play a game where they pull out a baseball card, and Mr. S can list ALL the previous teams, including minor league, etc., that they’ve played for. . . It’s kinda scary. And sort of adorable! 😉

  29. scentfromabove says:
    14 March 2015 at 7:26 pm

    Happy Saturday Everyone!
    Today is the first day in about a week that we have had sunshine! Although I love winter and the cold, seeing the sun after such a rainy week is nice! Here are my responses to today’s questions:

    1. What’s your fragrance today?
    My SOTD is “NO. 42 The Flower Shop” by Jo Loves. This is from a sample I have. I wish I could get my hands on a bottle of this. I saw one on Amazon today for $189.85. Not ready to pay that amount for the size of the bottle offered.

    2. If you had to recommend one single-brand sample set to a newbie, what brand would you pick?
    There are sooo many good ones. For a newbie, I would probably suggest the Estee Lauder line. I think this would give a newbie a variety of fragrances to play around with. I am sure there is something that they would fall in love with.

    3. Name a perfume you tested and thought you didn’t love, then surprised you with its beauty lingering on your clothing the next day.
    The most recent fragrance I experienced this with was “A Shot of Fresh Sweet Peas” by Jo Loves. Another fragrance from the Jo Loves line that I wish I could get my hands on. The first time I sprayed this on me, on my pj’s before bed, I turned up my nose. But, when I woke up the next morning, I was like wow! It’s a beautiful scent!

    4. Name your last “love at first smell” perfume. Did the relationship last?
    This would be Bottega Veneta’s “Knot”. I got a sample of this and it was instant love. I have yet to buy a full bottle, but have already drained my sample. The love is still there and I can’t wait until I can get a full bottle.

    5. Tell us about something, anything (a book? a chocolate? a movie? really, anything) wonderful that you think we should all know about.
    I have just recently started reading the book on the life of Coco Chanel. It is extremely fascinating. Her story is truly one to be read about for all perfume lovers. What an extraordinary woman and how she created her empire. It’s a good read!

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    • Sajini says:
      14 March 2015 at 7:44 pm

      I just saw that book at the library today and it looks great.

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  30. platinum14 says:
    14 March 2015 at 7:33 pm

    1. Wearing Magie Noire (new version) bought this week on a whim. It smells amazing, much better than most recent men’s releases

    2. It’s a tought one. I love Comme des Garçons, but I have to go with L’Artisan Parfumeur,

    3. Eau Sauvege Parfum! I don’t really like vetiver and this is very much a vetiver scent. It also is VERY different from regular Eau Sauvage. But it grew on me.

    4. Allof my fragraces are love-at-first-sniff. I am impulsive! So my lat one has to be Magie Noire

    5. i mentioned this before, but any history buff must read Margaret MacMillan! “The war that ended Peace” and “Paris 1919” i’m a huge fan!

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    • platinum14 says:
      14 March 2015 at 7:35 pm

      Sorry for the many typo: I’m on my phone in the car (not the driver)

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  31. Bear says:
    14 March 2015 at 7:58 pm

    SOTD – Chypre Palatin Parfums MDCI – expensive, but worth it.

    Misia sample update: Chanel.com sent me an email with 1-800-550-0005 (Doh! All the fives just clicked with me, sometimes I am so slow) as the contact number. Called, either go to a boutique or buy something on Chanel.com, samples there! For what it is worth, the fragrance samples selections are Bleu and Coco Mademoiselle, both available at the local mall. Ah Chanel, marketing is not your forte.

    Called the Seattle flagship Nordstrom, (Thanks, galbanumgirl!!) and Anne at the Chanel counter is sending a sample!! GO! Anne!!!

    I asked about the correct pronunciation, it is Meesh-UH.

    And a special thanks to a very generous NSTer who sent me an email about sharing her decant with me. I won’t out you, but I have seen other posters praise her generosity!!! GO! ___________!

    Bear

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    • galbanumgal says:
      15 March 2015 at 9:43 am

      Glad it worked, Bear. We can thank my mismatched feet for my slavish devotion to Nordstrom–the ONLY retailer that will allow me to split shoe sizes for the cost of one pair, from Nike to Aquatalia. I try to reward their exceptional customer service whenever possible!

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      • Jonas says:
        15 March 2015 at 2:05 pm

        Wow. That really is great service. I can definitely understand your loyalty. I’m really hoping their Canadian expansion goes well. I’d love to have one in my city.

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  32. meredifay says:
    14 March 2015 at 9:36 pm

    1. SOTD= Iris Poudre on my right and Bois d’Iris on my left. It went back and forth all day long, but now in the long dry down IP is better.

    2. I’m sort of a newbie myself, so I don’t have one to suggest.

    3. Mitsouko.

    4. Attrape Coeur! That will teach me to go ordering samples of discontinued perfumes out of curiosity.

    5. Mandy Aftel’s book, Fragrance, is my favorite book so far this year. It’s about perfume, it’s about history, it’s a personal development story, I lover it.

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    • hajusuuri says:
      14 March 2015 at 9:39 pm

      Nothing beats the Iris Poudre Dry Down – I wish there was a perfume that was IP Dry Down from start to finish 🙂

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      • meredifay says:
        14 March 2015 at 9:50 pm

        Yes, thst would be great! As it is, it really is pretty amazing! I keep sniffing the back of my hand and it is still there being beautiful. So simple, so delightful!

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  33. hajusuuri says:
    14 March 2015 at 10:17 pm

    1. Frapin Nevermore – I was just lamenting the fact that I did not get a sample of this while I was at Barneys earlier this week. Lo and behold, when I was rummaging through the Men’s Love Yourself Bag (aka “Handsome”), there was a sample of Nevermore. Unfortunately, it became a chemical woody mess on me so Nevermore is nevermore!

    2. This is hard! Considering that a newbie may initially only be exposed to department store / Sephora type perfumes (and no knock on them since they make perfumes, some really good ones, easily accessible), I would suggest a set of perfumes that even the niche perfume boutiques don’t even carry — pick and choose from Sonoma Scent Studio. The quality is top-notch, the perfumes have a wide range, the prices are very reasonable and the available sizes allow the newbie to graduate from vials to 3mL sprays to travel sprays to larger-sized bottles.

    3. I try not to let perfume touch my clothes so I have no answer for this question.

    4. Roja Dove Roja. At $3,500 for 100 mLs, the relationship was a non-starter and I almost regret smelling it. Wahhhhhhhh 😥

    5. I continue to love the Flavia de Luce mystery series by Alan Bradley. The central character is a delightfully quirky 11 year old girl detective. It is set in 1950s England although the latest book (“As Chimney Sweepers Came to Dust”) is set in Canada. It is best to read the series in order.

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  34. Lisa D says:
    14 March 2015 at 10:38 pm

    1. Annick Goutal Encens Flamboyant. It seems I will never tire of incense fragrances.

    2. I agree with many here that L’Artisan would be a great choice for a newbie, but I’d still suggest Ormonde Jayne instead, for the lasting power and depth.

    3. Hmmm. I tend to spray on skin, and also toss clothes into the hamper about 4.5 seconds after I get home (I’m one of those, “Get me out of this restrictive get-up and into some sweats and a t-shirt!” people), so this doesn’t happen to me.

    4. Comme des Garcons Jaisalmer. Still love it. Need a full bottle.

    5. I’ve been on this kick where I organize a small bit of my world on a daily basis. It could be a drawer, a purse, a closet, a shower rack or a shelf – size or location doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that the practice is making me unreasonably happy. I get a surge from feeling like I have exerted control over some part of my world, let go of things I don’t really need, cleaned up and streamlined – and it’s getting done in a very organic, when-I-see-it-and-know-I-have-time-for-it way that doesn’t seem to intrude too much into my work day. You know how you feel after you clean out your purse? It feels good like that, and it’s happening once a day, and all over my house. For those of you who despair of ever getting organized, I highly recommend it. The first drawer doesn’t seem like much, but after several days of this, the sense of making progress really starts to snowball.

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    • platinum14 says:
      14 March 2015 at 11:36 pm

      Yeah for Jaisalmer!

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    • bookgirl says:
      15 March 2015 at 2:48 am

      God, that purging feeling is the best. Enjoy the high!

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    • Deva says:
      15 March 2015 at 1:53 pm

      So liberating getting rid of “stuff.” In 2001, my father was diagnosed with a terminal illness and I sold/donated/trashed everything that didn’t fit into my pickup truck, and moved back to Florida to be with him.

      I pared my world down to two dogs, a cat, books, music, a mountain bike, and the essential personal items of clothing and toiletries.

      The world can weigh you down and it’s important to not carry too much as you walk through it.

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  35. Cockatoo says:
    15 March 2015 at 3:01 am

    1. Slumberhouse Sadanne. I love this line but this is not one of my favourite.
    2. Malle coffret – carnal flower, Cassie, Therese – the list goes on.
    3. Amouage Epic on a scarf days later. It’s now on my wish list.
    4. Byredo pulp – so luscious.
    5. Just finished the 3 rd series of Danish political drama Borgen. It’s wonderful and brings back memories of the three months I spent living in Copenhagen – such a fantastic city.

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    • Robin says:
      15 March 2015 at 9:18 am

      Borgen is one of my all time favorite series.

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  36. sweetgrass says:
    15 March 2015 at 6:59 am

    1. What’s your fragrance today? I was cleaning, so I didn’t really have one. I did try a couple of Agonist samples. I realized The Infidels smells like Smarties candy to me.

    2. If you had to recommend one single-brand sample set to a newbie, what brand would you pick?

    I’m a little surprised no one has mentioned it yet, but I would recommend Ineke’s sample set. The frags are well done but accessible, and if they liked any enough to buy a full bottle, they’re not horribly expensive either.

    3. Name a perfume you tested and thought you didn’t love, then surprised you with its beauty lingering on your clothing the next day.

    I fell for SL Boxeuses by a variation on this situation. I had a sample, and I wore the sample one day, which I liked but hadn’t made my mind up about (I wasn’t quite over my violet aversion). Then I accidentally left the sample in my pocket, and it came open in the laundry. I smelled it on a shirt while I was putting my clothes away, and I thought “Wow that’s really good. What is that?”. Then I found the empty vial among the clothes.

    4. Name your last “love at first smell” perfume. Did the relationship last?

    Putain des Palaces. I spritzed some on the back of my hand in a shop, I think the same day I bought Rossy de Palma. I knew I had to have that one next. And yes, it has lasted. I think I’m going to wear it today.

    5. Tell us about something, anything (a book? a chocolate? a movie? really, anything) wonderful that you think we should all know about.

    I’m really enjoying Better Call Saul. It’s fun getting to see more of the back stories of characters that were secondary in Breaking Bad.

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    • meganinstmaxime says:
      15 March 2015 at 11:52 am

      I’m liking Better Call Saul as well. It’s not Breaking Bad but it’s pretty good.

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  37. allgirlmafia says:
    15 March 2015 at 9:37 am

    SOTD is a light application of Habanita. This fortitudinous lady is going into the swap pile. There is a constant fight as to which one of us is wearing the other.

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  38. meganinstmaxime says:
    15 March 2015 at 9:48 am

    1. What’s your fragrance today? I’m trying out Guerlains’ La Petite Robe Noire flanker Eau Fraiche

    2. If you had to recommend one single-brand sample set to a newbie, what brand would you pick?

    That’s a toughie – probably L’Artisan as they do have a couple of sets to choose from and they’re not too pricey!

    3. Name a perfume you tested and thought you didn’t love, then surprised you with its beauty lingering on your clothing the next day.
    Samsara EDT

    4. Name your last “love at first smell” perfume. Did the relationship last?
    Rozy EDP and yes I still love it.

    5. Tell us about something, anything (a book? a chocolate? a movie? really, anything) wonderful that you think we should all know about.
    I saw The Theory of Everything on Friday and although it had gaps in the storyline, particularly in understanding more about how Stephen Hawking worked, it was very affecting and had great sets and costumes (particularly in the early Cambridge part).

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    • johanob says:
      15 March 2015 at 10:58 am

      I just discovered your blog!Fun read!Curious what you would think of Volutes Edp after reading the Edt review?

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      • meganinstmaxime says:
        15 March 2015 at 11:50 am

        Hi Johanob – Thanks for taking a look at the blog! I have tried the EDP and thought that it had a lot more iris than the EDT. The EDP wasn’t out when I bought the EDT but I actually like them both. Although when I do the maths, I think the EDT is better value, especially since it comes in a 50ml bottle as well.

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        • johanob says:
          15 March 2015 at 2:13 pm

          Hi!Pleasure!And thank you for the feedback.I got the Edp because of the Iris note.lol.

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    • Nightingale says:
      15 March 2015 at 8:32 pm

      Just posted and am now reading from the last post up. I had the same experience with Samsara!

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  39. thegoddessrena says:
    15 March 2015 at 10:54 am

    1. SOTD Marions Nous
    2. Sample Set-Envoyage
    3.not applicable
    4.Last love at first sniff–Marions Nous–I’ve only owned it a couple of weeks so it’s impossible to say if this will be a long-lasting thing. I bought this a week after sniffing it. On the flip side, I just scored a travel set of Ta’if off ebay which had been on my wish list for _years_
    5.Devil’s food cheesecake from Junior’s at room temperature–chocolate cake, chocolate frosting,and cheesecake. I love Junior’s cheesecake.

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  40. dissed says:
    15 March 2015 at 11:48 am

    Curses, I missed the splits. Maybe next time.

    AG Des Lys — it’s lily, all right/Ormonde Jayne/way too many/Traversee du Bosphore, yes/there’s never too much coffee.

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    • johanob says:
      15 March 2015 at 2:14 pm

      Next Saturday is the splitmeet!

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  41. 2rista says:
    15 March 2015 at 12:09 pm

    1. SOTD is Séville à l’Aube. The perfect spring fragrance.
    2. There are so many, but the Atélier set is generous and well-presented.
    3. It happens so often that I put on a sweater or a scarf and ask myself “What was that?” I think my latest change of heart was with Noontide Petals, which I found terribly soapy at first, but which I fell in love with after a couple of wears.
    4. My most spectacular case of love at first sniff was L’ Air du Désert Marocain and we are still in love.
    Apart from that I can’t think of anything earth-shattering to share with you today. We’re having a glorious spring-like weekend. I hope you’re all enjoying yours.

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    • nozknoz says:
      15 March 2015 at 9:54 pm

      Séville à l’Aube is a perfect spring fragrance. And a perfect summer, fall and winter fragrance – just incredibly versatile.

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  42. pixel says:
    15 March 2015 at 12:22 pm

    Off topic… nozknoz, thanks for the recommendation for personal shopping in france via shopfranceinc dawt com. Her price on SL bell jars is about midway between US & European pricing, and her next trip is in early April. I’ll report back on how the purchase goes, in a month or so… my first bell jar, woooooooo!

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    • Deva says:
      15 March 2015 at 1:58 pm

      Pixel, that’s wonderful! The only better would be personally retrieving your bell jar. Please update us as to how everything goes because I am tempted….;)

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    • nozknoz says:
      15 March 2015 at 3:55 pm

      Pixel, this service worked well for me – please let us know your outcome. Happy anticipation!

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  43. Hamamelis says:
    15 March 2015 at 12:38 pm

    1. Encens Flamboyant
    2. Ormonde Jayne set
    3. Songes, still love
    4. Heure Exquise, I think we will be together for a long time
    5. Second Kate Atkinson Life after Life (and all her books), Inspector Gamache, Borgen, and add The Golem and the Djinni by Helen Wecker

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  44. leathermountain says:
    15 March 2015 at 12:42 pm

    1. Pavilion. This was part of a trio from Lauder that included the long-gone Celadon and the still well-known White Linen. A little story here:

    I have a bottle of Eau de 1000, which I wear rarely but enthusiastically. Last night I wore it, recognized the slaying chypre top, and then slowly began to feel that the heart and base have turned. There was a fair amount of denial and checking involved, especially because of discrepant ‘facts’ such as, ‘the top notes always turn first.’ Of course the nose always wins, and so I have to say goodbye to my Eau de 1000 and to that former fact.

    This bothered me more than I thought was reasonable.

    Later last night I saw a bottle of 1000 for swap, from someone who seems interested in Pavilion. So I’m checking my Pavilion to see if it’s still good and if I can part with it.

    2. I invite the newbie on a smelling spree, and then I make a sample set from my stash.

    3. Sort of applies: Tabac Aurea. I do quite like the scent from the beginning. But the very best part is and always has been on my clothes the next day.

    4. Apres L’Ondee: yes and no. It was also the first FB I bought, and I do still admire it greatly. But I just don’t wear it like I used to.

    I believe my could-be 1000 swapper is also interested in Apres L’Ondee, so there’s another consideration.

    5. Coming up blank. So many wonderful things in life, but I think you all know about them already!

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  45. johanob says:
    15 March 2015 at 2:20 pm

    Looking online,there’s a whole bunch of interesting discovery sets these days!I had a looksy at the Bloom Perfumery and Les Senteurs websites,both shops based in London(seeing I have a friend there visiting for 2 weeks!)
    What caught my eye the most were the two Ann Gerard sets,both with 4 fragrances each,also a Grossmith set($$$) and the Atelier discovery sets.They offer quite substantial amounts of perfumes,and I do think if you want a piece of A designer’s whole range,they are the way to go.Oh!Nice Olfactive Studio set spotted as well!Choices choices….Happy Sunday people!

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  46. Mariann says:
    15 March 2015 at 3:05 pm

    As a newbie myself, I love reading all the recommendations for sample sets! Now for the rest:
    1. Kyoto
    3. Parfum Sacre, thought it a bit weird at first, now it’s a firm favorite.
    4. Cuir de Lancome, read about it here, bought a sample and it went straight onto the to-buy list.

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  47. missylulu says:
    15 March 2015 at 3:24 pm

    1.Chanel No. 19 EDP for me today. I do think I like the EDT a bit more though. The green is really in your face in the EDT and I like that it’s a bit sharper. It’s the same with Cristalle for me. Really prefer the EDT.

    2. I might recommend the Olfactive Studio set. I think their fragrances are really a lot of fun, and their visual components are equally stimulating. I think they have a good range of scents and since they come with a story, it might be a good way to start. Nothing screams summer to me more than Flashback.

    3. Chergui was a perfume that I didn’t love initially. I liked it, but the next day when I smelled it on my sweater, I was head-over-heels.

    4. I have too many love at first smell perfumes. A few notable ones are Parfums Delrae Mythique, Chanel Beige, and Goest Perfumes Dauphine. But frankly, I love a lot of scents when I first smell them. Oh, a recent one is definitely Jour D’Hermes. SO beautiful.

    5. I feel like I have so much to live up to because everyone is doing so many fun and interesting things! I just finished Kill My Mother by Jules Feiffer, which is a noir graphic novel that was super fun, with incredible art. I’m also reading Hip Hop Family Tree by Ed Piskor and it’s really informative to anyone interested in the history of hip hop. It’s funny and the art is great!

    3.

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  48. nozknoz says:
    15 March 2015 at 4:18 pm

    Regarding sample sets, I’m noticing there is a Puredistance sample set on Luckyscent. I fell in love with the line at first sniff. It took me some time to narrow it down to one for an FB (Puredistance I). I still enjoy the other samples from time to time.

    I think if I could recommend any single line for beginners, it would L’Artisan Parfumeur because of its scope (different types of scents), overall quality, and the number of both great smelling and intriguingly weird scents. However, I don’t think their occasional sample sets do the line justice. It would be better to order as many different samples as possible from Luckyscent or a decanter.

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  49. AnnieA says:
    15 March 2015 at 6:05 pm

    A bit off topic, but I just tried samples of Misia and Lipstick Rose side by side. They didn’t in fact resemble each other very much: Misia seemed to be a cross between Bottega Veneta and Balenciaga Paris.

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    • Merlin says:
      15 March 2015 at 6:08 pm

      Interesting! Lipstick Rose sounds much warmer, and more full-bodied. Chanel is always restrained-elegance…

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    • hajusuuri says:
      15 March 2015 at 6:19 pm

      That’s good because I don’t get along with Lipstick Rose!

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      • Merlin says:
        15 March 2015 at 6:31 pm

        I have the travel refills – but admit I don’t wear it THAT often.

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  50. Filomena says:
    15 March 2015 at 6:42 pm

    1. Tauerville’s Rose Flash
    2. Ineke
    3. Byredo 1996
    4. Misia (It’s a new relationship but I think it will last)
    5. Loving the Neela Vermeire Scents Mohur and Traylee…I am sure lots of you
    have tried them, but if you haven’t, I would highly recommend them.

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    • kindcrow says:
      15 March 2015 at 7:13 pm

      I’m very interested in Rose Flash. Does the rose last for a long time or is it quickly overwhelmed by the resins?

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      • Filomena says:
        15 March 2015 at 8:28 pm

        kindcrow,
        I just received it and have only sprayed a teeny bit because I already had a perfume on before it arrived. I will need to spray several spritzes for the day to see how long it lasts. But it is really a pretty rose scent.

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      • cazaubon says:
        15 March 2015 at 11:58 pm

        On me it stays very rosy and lasts for hours – very potent and good sillage.

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      • kindcrow says:
        16 March 2015 at 7:41 am

        Thanks, you two.

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  51. Nightingale says:
    15 March 2015 at 8:28 pm

    1. Bvlgari Black today. It’s been a long week and I’ve had little time to relax. Black worked for a day at home filled with kids and weekend chores.
    2. I still feel like a newbie and have yet to order a sample set. I should really order one from SSS.
    3. Samsara EdT. The first couple times I wore it I over sprayed. It was a little overwhelming, but I definitely noticed my bathrobe smelling fabulous. Now I use a lighter hand to apply.
    4. No 19 EdT. Still true and absolute love.
    5. All the Light We Cannot See, a novel by Anthony Doerr. Historical fiction with two unlikely points of view. One of the best books I read last year that has stayed with me. I also watched the mini series Olive Kittridge. The acting was incredible and I was sorry it was just a mini series.

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  52. juicejones says:
    15 March 2015 at 11:21 pm

    The SA at Barneys offered to make a sample of Rodin Bis for me on Saturday. Boy, do I love it. So retro!
    That is the second sample I was offered in as many visits. That has never happened before.

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  53. cazaubon says:
    16 March 2015 at 12:02 am

    I am wearing a bunch of samples, of which one, SL Réligieuse, was an instant winner. Another enduring instant love is AG Encens Flamboyant. Had a hard time initially with SL Cuir Mauresque until I tried dabbing instead of spraying, and then it was love.

    I am loving my new iPhone, can’t believe I waited so long to get one.

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